Ex-Sheffield United man joins Huddersfield Town and it's got fans talking | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town have confirmed an addition to their first team coaching staff

Huddersfield Town are preparing for their third season back in League One and will have their sights set on a promotion battle.

The Terriers finished ninth in 2025/26, eight points adrift of the play-off places in a disrupted campaign.

But Jon Stead and Martin Drury are now overseeing pre-season, as they look to get the team ready for the year ahead.

The Yorkshire outfit have already added Ashley Fletcher and Ilias Bronkhorst as free agents, with Ethan Brierley also joining from Brentford.

Matty Young signed for the League One side on loan from Sunderland, with Huddersfield getting active in the transfer market.

Fans will be hoping that the team are well-prepared for the campaign ahead, with a possible promotion push on the horizon.

Huddersfield Town confirm major coaching addition

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Huddersfield have confirmed the arrival of Alan Knill as part of the coaching staff, with the former Sheffield United man becoming the new assistant for the first team.

Stead and Drury were appointed to lead the first team on an initial interim basis following Liam Manning’s decision to step away from the club due to personal reasons.

But the duo were handed the reins on a permanent basis over the summer once Manning’s departure was made official.

And now the highly-rated Knill has joined the operation as their assistant ahead of the new campaign getting underway in just a few weeks.

The 61-year-old departed the Blades at the end of last season, previously working quite closely with Chris Wilder.

How Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United fans reacted to Alan Knill’s new job

Huddersfield fans are delighted with the appointment of Knill, suggesting that his experience will be a massively useful asset to have in the coaching staff.

Supporters have claimed that the 61-year-old is exactly what’s needed for the season ahead, with a lot of excitement surrounding his arrival.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United fans have wished Knill the best, suggesting that he will be quite a positive addition for the Terriers.

And others have also expressed their frustration at seeing the coach move elsewhere, suggesting he was pushed out by the owners instead of retiring from the game.

Huddersfield will return to competitive action on 15 August with a home clash against AFC Wimbledon.

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Alan Knill appointment is a shrewd move by Huddersfield Town

Drury and Stead are an inexperienced duo to lead Huddersfield into next season, so bringing in somebody like Knill is a big boost for them.

The former Sheffield United coach knows the EFL like the back of his hand, and knows what it takes to be successful at this level.

He has earned a positive reputation within the game as a strong assistant coach, and it’s no surprise that Sheffield United fans are wishing him well with this move.

This could prove a very smart addition, and could potentially be as impactful as any signing made this summer in the transfer market.